Draft rigging



B. W. KADEL DRAFT RIGGING ug. E6, 1927.

Filed Sept. 16 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 16, 1927. 1,639,567

B. w. KADEL DRAFT RIGGING Filed sept. 16. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedAug. 16, 1927.`

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RYERs W. KADEL, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AssIGNOR To TEE SYMINGTONoomrANY,' or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OE MARYLAND.

DRAFT BIGGING.

Application led, September The invention relates to draft rigging, andmore particularly to a connection between the draft lugs, coupler andyoke.

The principal object of my invention,

generally considered, is the modification of the length of the slots incooperating draft lugs, couplers and yokes, whereby certaln importantadvantages are obtained.

An object of my invention is the construction of a connection between acoupler, yoke and associated draft lugs and the relative length of theslots therethrough, whereby an associated draft key-servesto supportsaid coupler and yoke in operative position, saiddraft lug slots beingmaterially decreased -in length for the purpose of providing an eXtrastrong inner abutment for the associated key as well as forming a frontfollower abutment `of unusual strength, the decreased motion of the keyin said draft lug slots being com ensated for by providing a slot througthe coupler with a correspondingly increased length, whereby normaltravel of the coupler is permitted.

- Another Object of my invention is the de crease in length vof thedraft 'key slots through the yokes, and particularly through yokes ofthe vertical type, in which said slots are'forlned in substantiallyvertical spaced webs connecting the forward portions offthe armsthereof,n whereby the draft key abutments atthe inner ends of said slotsare correspondingly increased and strength-l cned. the normal travel ofthe associated couplers being permitted and provided for bycorrespondingly increasing the length of the draft key slots therein.

A further Object of my invention is the formation of the followerabutments on railway draft luga-:particularly those of the A. R. A.type, of increased depth or length, the outer ends of said abutmentsserving as draft key abutments and extending toward eachother forsubstantially the full width of the follower abutments, whereby thedraft key span is proportionately decreased, permitting said draft keytovcarry a correspondingly greater buffing force. v

A still further Object of my invention is the provision of a connectionbetween a. slotted coupler and a slotted yoke supported fromslotteddraft lugs by an associated key 1e, i925. serial No. 56,760.

extending through the slots in lsaid members, the lengths of said slotsbeing so proportioned that travel of the key is materially less than thetravel of the coupler when moving in one direction, and moreparticularly in a rearward or bufl:l transmitting directlon, such aconstruction making it permissible to increase the strength of the keyand followervabutments on the draft lugs as well as the key abutments onthe yoke.

There are other objects and advantages of my invention which .wi1lbecome more apparent as the description proceeds.

Referringto the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope 'whereofis defined by the claims:

Figure 1 is a plan view partly in horizontal section On the line 1-1 ofFigure 2, illust-rating an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view shown partly in vertical section on theline`2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are views, similar to Fi ures 1 and 2 respectively,showing a modg'- cation.

Referring to they drawings in detail, like parts being designated bylike reference i characters, and first considering Figures 1 l80.

and 2, there are shown'front draft lugs 1 connected to the draft orcenter sills 20u the inner. faces of the` webs 3 thereofy by means. of aplurality of rivets 4. Said lugs 1 are provided with follower and draftkey abutment portions 5 extending toward each other, the inner or rearfaces of said abutm'ent portions serving for operatively engaging afront follower 6 associated with cushioning mechanism 7, of any desiredtype. The outer or front facev of the abutment portions 5 define therear. or inner ends of the slots 8 through said draft lugs. Said slots 8are materially shortened, whereby the longitudinal dimension or depth ofsaid 95. abutment portions 5 is materially increasedA with the draft keyabutment face continued for substantially the full width of the followerabutment. face, thereby materially decreasing the span or beam len h ofthe associateddraft key 9 which, as lllust'rated, engages said draftlugs in the slotted portions 8 thereof.

Said draft key 9, in accordance with the usual practice, serves forsupporting, in operative relation, a coupler 10 and associated yoke 11.The rear or inner end of the coupler 10 engages the front face of thefollower 6, .in accordance with the usual practice. In the embodimentillustrated, although I donot wish to be limited to such a showing, theyoke is of theA vertical type with forwardly extending arms 12 and 13from a rear U-shaped portion (not shown), the .forward ends of said armsbeing connected by slotted webs or substantially vertical wall portions14 and 15.

To compensate for the restricted .travel between the key 9 and the draftlugs 1, be-

cause of the decreased length of the slots 8- through said draft lugs,so that a normal amount of travel of the coupler 10 is permitted, theslot 16 in said coupler, through which the draft key 9 extends, isformed ofl a length materially greater than normal, said increase inlength preferably corresponding to the decrease in length of the slots 8in the draft lugs 1. As will be apparentfrom a consideration of thedrawings, the slot 16is extended in length outwardly, in accordance withthe decrease in length of the slots 8v in the draft lugs 1 forwardly, sothat normally there is only relative movement between the coupler anddraft key when bufling forces act on said coupler. To correspond withthe decrease in length of the slots 8 in the dra-ft lugs 1, the slots 17and 18, through the walls or webs 14 and 15, respectively, of the yoke11 are preferably corresponding] shortened, thereby making it possibleto e fect a material increase in length of the rear key-abutmentportions 19 and 20 on said yoke, and particularly the webs 14 and 15thereof..

From a consideration of the foregoing,it will be apparent that when inoperation there is no change in the action of the draft gear on accountof my improved construcytion when drafty forces 'are applied to the icoupler. When, however,'bufhng forces are,

applied to said coupler there is a materially different action in thatthe coupler -first moves with respect to said draft key 9 until theouter draft key abutment at the outer end of the slot 16 therein engagesthe outer edge of the draft key 9 and carries said key rearwardly toeventually abut against the draft key and front follower abutmentportions 5 of the draft lugs 1. When this has been effected, it will beapparent from the foregoing, a full amount of coupler travel has beenpermitted and the cushioning mechanism 7 will have been compressed toits full capacity. The engagement between the draft key 9 and theabutment portions 5 then effects a transfer of bufiing forces directlyfrom said key to the draft lugs 1 and associated draft sills 2. Byreason of the relatively small and decreased span provided,

the dra-ft key is able to transmit such forces to a materially eaterdegree than normall On account o the coupler not immediate y engagingand carrying withy it the key 9, a reduced travel of said key resultswith a consequent decrease in wear thereof. 0n account of the increasedlength of the=abut ment portions 5 of the draft lugs 1, a greatimprovement in eective strength of the draft lugs 1 is secured withoutincreasing the overall dimensions and without mate- Y rially increasingthe weight of said lugs. -A

similar increase in strength is effected adjacent the draft keyabutments 19 and 2O on the yoke `11. Bye-reason of the coupler notlengaging with the key immediately upon the application of bufiingforces to said coupler, thev cushioning mechanism will be stressed to amaterial extent and .the speed of the coupler decreased almost to astandstill before the key is picked up or engaged thereby. On account ofthis action the force transmitted from the coupler to the key and thecorresponding force transmitted from the key to the draft lugs upontravel ofthe key tothe corresponding or innerends of the slots in saiddraft lugs is practically merely a static force'rather than a dynamicforce and the resulting strain on the affected parts is therebymaterially decreased.

` Referring now to the embodiment'of my invention illustrated in Figures3 and 4, a construction is there shown utilizing a coupler with astandard slot therein as well as a standard yoke, cooperating with draftlugs, embodying features of my invention. According to this modifiedconstruction, the key 9 is received in the slot 16 in the coupler 10awith only the normal amount of clearance. The slots 8a in the draftlugs, however, are of decreased length, as in the embodiment of myinvention illustrated in Figures 1` and 2, whereby the abutments 5a areof corresponding increased strength. In order to provide for normaltravel of the coupler, it is necessary, in this instance, to cut awaythe ends of the key 9, as indicated at 21 and 22, an amountcorresponding to the decrease in length f the slots 8*'in the draft lugsso that anormal amount of travel-is allowed between the key 9'* and thedraft lugs 1a. The portions cut away at 21 and 22 need only extendinwardly or toward the center of the key far enough to clear the inneredges of the abutment portions 5a of the draft lugs 1a if said key isemployed with a yoke 11"L of the standard type or one with slots 17 and18 therethrough of normal length, as illustrated in this modification.If, however, a yoke with shortened slots and strengthened abutmentportions at the inner ends of said slots is employed, as in the firstembodiment of my invention, it is necessary to extend the cut awayportions 21 and 22 inwardly so as to clear said key abutment portions ofthe yoke in the same manner .in which the abutment portions 5'l of thedraft lugs 1a are now cleared. I Y

On .account of the relatively small t-ransverse clearances bet-Ween thecoupler, yoke and draft lugs, it is preferable, in the pres. entinstance, to center` the key 9a with respect to the coupler 10a byanylusual vor desired means. In th'eypresent instance, avertical pin 23is shownl extending through the coupler and intersecting the draft keyor an edge thereof for centering said key therein or preventing relativetransverse `motion therebetween. Said centering device 23, may beprovided with a head 24 for limitinfr the downward movement thereof andwit retaining means through the lower end of said pin such as, forexample, the cotter 25.

Inl this second embodiment of my invention, heretofore described,certain advantages are secured and disadvantages incurred with respectto the first embodiment disclosed. For example, in the secondembodiment,`.it is posslble to employ standard couplers and yokes merelyutilizing reinforced .draft lugs, in accordance with my invention, andmodifying the associated key member by decreasing the slot engaging endsthereof to correspond with the decreased lengthv of said slots.yAlthough, on account of cutting away portions of the key, said key isdecreased in strength, yet said decrease is at the ends of the key wherethe metal is not ordinarily stressed as much as in the center thereof sothat said key will still be amply strong for the desired purpose.Because, in this second em bodiment, the key travels the same distancethat the coupler does, certain of the advantages mentioned in connectionwith the relative movement between coupler and key, as in the firstembodiment of my invention, are missing. as will be understood.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a slotted coupler, of slotted draft lugsconnected to the inner faces of the draft sills, a slotted yoke, the

slots in said draft lugs being of such length as to limit the travel ofthe coupler key to less than the travel of the coupler, those portionsof said lugs adjacent the rear ends of said slots being materiallyreinforced by relatively thick metal which is extended for lsubstantially the full width of said lugs to engage the key therea-longand reduce the effective beam length thereof, the slot in thecouplerrnormally engaging one edge of the key and spacedtfrom theopposite edge thereof, whereby the coupler and yoke move as a unit inone direction and have relative movement in the opposite direction.

' 2. In a railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, ofslotted draft lugs connected thereto, a slotted coupler, a slotted yoke,a draft' key extending through the slots in draft lu s, cou ler and yokefor holding said coup er an yoke in operative relation, those rtions ofsaid lugs adjacent the4 rear engsof the slots therein being extendedinto correspondin slots in the draft sills and materially thickenedtoward the key and extended for substantially the full width of the lugsthereby increasing the effective strength of said key, the slot in thecoupler being abnormally long and those in the oke and lugs abnormallyshort whereby the ey travels less than the coupler on buff.

3. In a railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, lofslotted 'draft lugs connected thereto, said lugs having abutmentportions adapted for engagement with a cooperating front followermember, said abutment portions being reinforced by discontinuing theslots at a greater distance than normal fromsaid abutment portions toleave a larger amount of metal therein, aslotted coupler, a slottedyoke, a draft key extending through the slots in draftilugs, coupler andyoke for operatively supporting said coupler and yoke, the reinforcementof said abutment rtions adjacent the rear ends of the slots y the fullwidth thereof whereby not only is the strength of the abutmentsincreased but the bearing area for the key is likewise in creased, theslot'in the coupler permitting movement with respect to the key in onedirection and moving the key with it in the other direction, and theslots in the yoke being correspondingl shortened. i

4. In a railway tion with draft sills, of raft lugs connected to theinner faces thereof, sald lugs being provided with front followerabutment portions with the slots through said lugs decreased in lengthfor correspondirbgly increasing the strength of said abutment portions,a slotted coupler, av slotted yoke, a draft key extending through theslots in draft lugs, cou ler and yoke for holding .said coupler an yokein operative relation,

said abutment portions being increased in strength lby extendin themetal for substantially the full wi th of the abutments to the re'arends of the key slots thereby increasing the effective strength of saidkey 'against buing forces, the slot inthe coupler being of a lengthgreater than normal corresponding to the decrease in length of` thedraft lug slotsJ for permittin relativemetion between the coupler andraft key, cor respondin to the decreased motion between the draft ey and,draft lugs, and the slots in the yoke being decreased in length inaccordance with the decrease in length of the draft lug slots. L

5. In a rallway draft rigging,

draft Ylugs eing continued for substantially e aft ri ging, incombinallo connected thereto, a slotted cou ler, a yoke in which theslots thereof are ecreased in length to 'reinforce the 'rear' wallsthereof, a draft key extending through the slots in draft lugs, couplerand yoke for operatively supporting said coupler and yoke, said draftlugs being rovided with abutment portions extending inwardly to not onlyengagean associated front follower but also engage the ke alongsubstantiallythe full width of sai portions, the slot in the couplerbeing lengthened to correspond with the shortenlng of the slot in theyoke, whereby`a normal amount of travel therebetween is permitted.

6. In a railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills andslotted draftlugs connected thereto, a slotted coupler, a yoke providedwith slots materially shortened for reinforcing the inner ends of theyoke webs throu h which the slots extend, a draft key extending throughthe slots in the draft lugs, coupler and yoke for holding said cou-ypler and yoke in operative relatiomsaid draft lugs being provided withabutment portions reinforced for engaging an associated follower on oneside and urnishing shoulders of increased breadth to supportsaid draftkey on `the other side, the slot in the coupler being lengthened inaccordance with the decrease in length of the slots in the yoke, and theslots in the draft lugs being shortened in accordance with theshortening of theI yoke slots whereby a normal -amount of travel of thecoupler is permitted.

7. In a railway draft rigging, in combination withdraft sills, ofslotted draft lugs connected thereto, said draft lugs being providedwith follower engaging abutments adjacent corresponding ends of saidslots, said slots being materially shortened at the abutment ends of thedraft-lugs with the metal in said abutments continued for substantiallythe full width thereof to the'adjacent ends of said slots, whereby thespan between the adjacent ends of said abutments is materiallyshortened, a slotted coupler, a slotted yoke, and a draftkey extendingthrough the slots in the draft lugs Iand adapted for transmittingbulling force to the inner ends of the slotted portions in the draftlugs and also extending through the slots in the coupler and yoke forholding the same in operative position, the slot in the coupler beingincreased in length'to correspond with the decrease in length of thedraft lug slots, whereby a normal amount of coupler travel is permitted.

8. In a railway draft rig ing. in co1nbination with draft sills, oslotted draft lugs connected to the interior faces thereof and providedwith front follower abutments extending toward each other, the slotsinsaid lugs being materially ldecreased in length frgm the followerabutment end of the lugs with the provision of an increased amount ofreinforcement strengthening said follower abutments for substantiallythe full width thereof, whereb the span between the adje cent portionsofy the inner ends of the draft key slots is materially decreased, aslotted coupler, a slotted yoke, a draft key extending through the slotsin said draft lugs adapted for transmitting force to the inner ends ofsaid slotted portlonsadjacent the reinforced follower abutments, saidAkey being adapted to transmit a materiallygreater amount of forcebecause of the decreased span provided, said key alsol extending throughthe slots in the coupler and yoke for holding the same in opera-tiverelation with respect to the draft lugs, the slot in the coupler beinglengthened to correspond with the decrease in length'of the draft lugslots, and the slots in the yoke being abnormally lshort to correspondwith the shortened draft lug slots, whereby the key travels less thanth'e coupler on motion of said coupler in one direction.

9. In a railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, ofslotted draft lugs connected thereto, said lugs having abutment portionsadapted for engagement with a cooperating front follower member, saidabutment portions being reinforced by discontinuing the slots at agreater distance than normal from said abutment portions to leave alarger amount of metal therein, a slotted coupler, a slotted yoke, adraft key extending through the slots in draft lugs, coupler and yokefor operatively supporting said coupler and yoke, the metal in saidabutment portions adjacent the rear ends of the slots therein serving toprovide increased bearing area for the key, the construction of thecoupler and key being such that a normal amount of coupler travel ispermitted.

l0. I n a railway draftrigging, in combination with draft sills,ofslotted draft lugs connected thereto, said drap-y lugs being providedwith follower engaging abutments adjacent corresponding ends of saidslots, said slots being materially shortened at the abutment ends of thedraft lugs with the metal in said abutments continued for substantiallythe full width thcrrof to the adjacent ends of said slots, whereby thespan between the adjacent ends of said abutments is materiallyshortened, a slotted coupler, a slotted yoke. and a draft key extendingthrough the slots in the draft lugs and adapted for transmitting buiingforce to the inner ends of the slotted portions in the draft lugs andalso extending through the slots in the coupler and yoke for holding thesame in operative position.

11. A draft lug adapted for application.

to a railway car sill comprising a portion engageable 1n a cooperatingslot 1n said sill,

an abutment portion extending inwardly from said lug for engaging anAassociated front follower, said lug being provided with a substantiallylongitudinal slot thereiny discontinued short of the abutment portion,said 5 abutment portion djacentthe near end ofl the slot beingreinforced by increasing the thickness of the metal thereinand extendingsaid thickened metal for substantially the full -width of said abutmentthereby providing increased' bearing area for an associated 1v0 draftkey.

BYERS W. KABEL.

